Washington (CNN) - Congressional leaders hardened their positions on a possible deficit reduction deal the day before President Barack Obama is to intervene in the negotiations.

Talks led by Vice President Joe Biden concluded last week without an agreement, and the White House announced that Obama will meet Monday with the Senate Democratic and Republican leaders to keep the process going.

soundoff(34 Responses)

Jason, Chicago IL

Same sad rhetoric here as on capital hill.

Nothing is going to get done until both sides realize that they're going to give up things they don't want to give up. Cuts to medicare, social security, military spending, and tax increases must all be on the table.

You don't overcome a crisis with half measures. When we fought the Nazis and the Empire of Japan in World War 2, we didn't say "We must overcome this evil, but only if I don't have to sacrifice anything to do it." Americans sacrificed their lives, they sacrificed their incomes (inflation was at an extremely high rate and the top income tax rate was 75%), they worked long hours, and all of it was with the understanding that it wasn't being done so that some one could profit from it.

The reason that Americans sacrificed is because every one understood that it was a crisis, that the problem had to be dealt with immediately or it would ruin us all. Until those people on both sides of the aisle start acting like adults who are facing a real crisis, we face of the risk of this problem ruining us all. If and when Americans and their leaders accept that we are all going to have to sacrifice, not for any kind of profit, but simply because this is a problem that must be solved, we will solve it. Not without sacrifice and pain, but we WILL solve it. It is not too big, the future is not hopeless, unless we make it hopeless by refusing to act.

June 26, 2011 07:39 pm at 7:39 pm |

Richard

Overspending by Obama????? Bush destroyed the USA's economy even when warned about it by his first two Sec of the Treasury. The idiot fired them. Bush inherited a $200+ billion surplus from Clinton and immediately trashed it and turned it into a $6 trillion deficit debacle. Bush handed Obama a $1.1+ trillion budget deficit and then when the Republicans obtained control of the house in 2010 they added another $400 billion to the deficit. The Republicans spend like a drunken sailor on shore leave...and don't forget they murder 1,000 Americans a week by denying them health care. The Republicans are a greater threat to American than al Qaida. Al Qaida, 3,000 killed, Republicans since 9/11 500,000 (numbers based on Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Institutions study of Americans lives lost due to lack of health insurance issued in 2009) and they want more. Obama hasn't even had a chance, he is still patching up the damage Bush and the Republicans have done to America. Why don't the Republican cut Medicare, education, health care to only people who vote Republican? Let them put their money where their months are.

June 26, 2011 07:39 pm at 7:39 pm |

Walter

People are going to have to understand that the United States government is no longer in a position to provide financial support to its citizenry. The right is so concerned about the redistribution of wealth; but that simply is not going to happen. Unless we want to wind up like Greece, all the increased revenues (be they from new or existing taxes) will be going to feed the debt. The poor and the middle class are not going to get one cent from the wealthy.

June 26, 2011 07:48 pm at 7:48 pm |

exnard

Why is the concept of not continuing to spend borrowed money so difficult for liberals to understand?

June 26, 2011 07:57 pm at 7:57 pm |

Wally

It's interesting that less than half of the wage earners in our cou ntry pay taxes and yet some want to increase the amount of taxes that those of us who do pay taxes are charged. We have thrown a vast amount of money at President Obama led infrastructure projects, union employees, democratic leaning states, and other worthwhile projects with dismal results. Now we hear that the answer is more money so we can spend additional dollars on infrastructure projects and the same group of supporters. Enough of the madness. This country has a spending problem and both parties are responsible. Enough is enough. You cannot spend your way out of debt and you cannot borrow your way to sustainability. Stop spending money we don't have.

June 26, 2011 07:58 pm at 7:58 pm |

ray

It's hard to get excited about a group of guys whose stated aim is to maybe reduce spending $4 trillion over 10 years when the national debt is now $14.5 trillion. That would mean if all goes as planned we could be debt free in 40 years. Give me a break. And stop with the gloom and doom default stuff. It might be the best thing that ever happens. If no one will lend us money maybe, just maybe, we will live within our means.

June 26, 2011 08:03 pm at 8:03 pm |

Four and The Door

Raising taxes is not a plan. It is a free-pass for more out of control spending. Bear in mind, Obama is the one who set the existing debt ceiling. Then he just paid zero attention to it. Hard working Americans do not need to pay more so he can spend more. The spending problem needs to be addressed. I am proud of the Republicans for doing what is right for America.

June 26, 2011 08:07 pm at 8:07 pm |

diridi

Foreigners are cashing in our social security, they are esply from India, old guys, come and take citizenship, and claim social security, and go home....happily live ever after...this needs to be stopped...they are esply priests of temples stay here for five years...just five years......first fix this ......sad, Americans are ripped off....out of these iditos greed....greed...greed...stop....fellow americans, ask senate to stop....this nonsense....

June 27, 2011 08:34 am at 8:34 am |

I'm a GOP Hostage and so are you

The GOP is holding the world economy hostage. And for what? PERKS FOR THE RICH that we the "underclass" Americans (i.e. formerly the Middle Class) will never ever see! Thanks GOP, for ruining this country and the world economy just to appease a tiny tiny tiny slice of uber-rich.